Hello, to all who visit the writer's forum and gallery. I have to ask, where the is the support, constructive critique, and commentary for the many wonderful writers in this site's gallery? I am deeply saddened to see the lack of responses to those who take their time to post written works. (Btw - I am not asking for any comments on behalf of my feeble writings -- but for those of others). Peace & Love, My best to all -- TallPockets.

It's all over there in the sections with the naked women... hard to read while drooling their brains out.

Hey Tallpockets and All who venture this far, Greetings from the new guy. Thought the rule was to find a new way to gush over postings. No? "Constructive critique?" Oh be still my heart. A few of my gentle tries at such critique in this forum have been met with caverns of silence, with one notable exception. CONSTRUCTIVE critique, friends, is the life-blood of creative writing. There isn't much decent writing around, but wow, is there ever a world of excellent re-writing. Hurrah for those who offer CONSTRUCTIVE critique, and for those willing to re-examine their work. Yes, it can be ego-bruising when readers misunderstand your offering. But who is at fault, Public School Number Eight? Don't think so. Look, we all get close to our work, our creations. "Don't you dare call my baby ugly!" Move on from that attitude. Please. You are not a writer if no one wants to read your work. Book covers close and the mouse clicks away. Please examine CONSTRUCTIVE critiques and consider how to improve your offerings. Dick

I prefer constructive remarks, praise is nice too, but I can't fix something unless I know it's broken. But let's be realistic, most people come here to drool over the visual stuff, not the written word. Why use their imagination when they can go see it laid out for them.

Please, no. Most come to Renderosity Galleries "All" and "All" to get their visual fix, yes. But this forum, and our "Writers Gallery," is different. You have to want to find us, so far are we down the list.

Do not give up. Please authors, give us written ideas to consider. Brian (TallPockets) does that, among several others. The R-R format creaks a bit for the presentation of prose and reasoned critiques, but if we offer one constructive idea with the gooey dollops of praise ("Even margin" does not count), then perhaps, just maybe, we can improve -- Dick

Message edited on: 11/04/2005 11:10

I contribute when the urge strikes me. I write short stories, often wickedly sharp little tidbits designed to make someone want more. I leave the truly profound views on life and people to Brian, he's much better at it than I. smiles

Speaking of constructive criticism, don't forget to comment on this month's dual challenges here in the forum. There were 11 poetry entries and 4 for prose. Given the new guidelines for the writer's challenges I must presume these folks are specifically looking for constructive feedback. Let's not let them down. jon

 
~jon
My Blog - Mad Utopia Writing in a new era.

I'm ignorant........

I've been a member of this site for quite some time and I didn't even know there was a "Writer's" forum. I just happened upon it yesterday. I didn't know this place had a chat either.

I post my written works on a variety of sites on the net but this is the only one I've found where I can post both my art and writings.

I agree that most come to this site to view the eye-candy. Me I'd post in the Bryce gallery if it werent for the written part of my works. There I'd have a larger size for the image. I think that most think that the Writer's gallery doesn't have images/3d art etc. But many of the posts do.

For me, I've tried the Bryce gallery and I think I'll always remain in the Writer's. I find that without the words my images would contain a different meaning and vise versa.

It's impossible, but it would be nice if for example one could choose to upload into the Writer's gallery with the genre of Bryce. Then within a search a writer's image could be found. Or better yet, just allow a larger image size in the Writer's gallery. Not necessarily full screen size but something more then just 300x300. I know they say you can link back from one gallery to another in regards to images. I've tried that, it don't work right. But then again......
I'm ignorant.

-S.

"I knew who I was when I woke up this morning; but I"ve changed several times since then"- Alice

All - thanks kindly for your responses. I still am puzzled by those who 'only' post in either the 'writers forum' or the 'galleries'? Why not both? If either area truly wants to enlarge their base, so to speak, then I think it would make sense to cross areas, yes? As for 'constructive critique' - yes, it's not likely to be 'liked' at times for those who receive it. I'm reminded of when I coached sports. Many different ones. Youth sports, mostly. People who enjoyed what they did yet could use some guidance, at times. I saw plenty of 'coaches' whose definition of 'contructive critique' was ''Hey stupid, what the hell was that?" -- One man's constructive critique is another man's ? LOL. I guess I operate on the philosophy that when I comment on anyone's works I try to do it in the manner that would be helpful from my feeble viewpoint, but one in which I would want to be told by others? All here may disagree with me on the following statement, but I truly believe it, "There is a disconnect here in the writer's area, in my humble opinion, between those in the 'forum' and those in the 'gallery'. It's like when you were in high school. You were either in the 'in' group or you were not. So sad to see from my perspective. There are alot of talented people here I read daily, in both areas. Some have far better use of the english language and writers skill than others. Boy, do "I" know that. WINK. I'm reminded of my high school poetry classes I took. Those of Milton, Keats, etc. Then, along comes a 'nut' writer like e.e. cummings or Ogden Nash. I kinda' liked them all - because of their differences and perspectives on life. "C'mon people now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another right now" (Song:Get Together - By: The Youngbloods). *That last line was for Eternalwytch1. WINK WINK. TallPockets.

Hi Shabetei, There are groups that allow how you want post in html format photo-stories with as much or as little text as you like. EZboard has many such communities. Since most of my photo-stories depend on 1/6th scale actors, I post at Fantasy Net and One Sixth Action Figures, both EZboard communities. However most of those members are more interested in making and modifying their figures than in what mischief the figures can create. Constructive critique of writing never happens. The images embedded within such a story are not stored at any EZboard site, but linked to a photohost, such as www dot photobucket dot com. You upload your images to the photohost (up to 1MB per pic for photobucket free to a limit, or unlimited for a modest fee) and link-in each pic's url at the appropriate place in your text the linking url is not seen by the viewer. Here is a pic-heavy, yet simple example of what can be done (note that I usually post at 800x600 pxls, but those boards will go m-u-c-h larger): http://p087.ezboard.com/ffantasynetfrm2.showMessage?topicID=1362.topic This beats forcing hundreds of words into the bottom of your image. Well, it's an idea -- Dick

Thanks Brian Grins As to the use of images... not everyone can whip out something. I can use PSP and a couple of other graphics programs, but nothing like Bryce or Poser. And for most writers, me included, it's the words that make the image, not the image making the words.

"All here may disagree with me on the following statement, but I truly believe it, "There is a disconnect here in the writer's area, in my humble opinion, between those in the 'forum' and those in the 'gallery'. It's like when you were in high school. You were either in the 'in' group or you were not. So sad to see from my perspective." -- Somebody, PLEASE, prove me wrong. WINK. T.P.

Just offhand, I don't think it is useful to put people on the defense about the choices they make. That they choose to do something differently than what you prefer does not make them wrong, nor does it make you wrong. What would be a wrong is if someone did something to please someone else when it didn't feel right for them to do. I would suggest accepting the differences and go on with life and writing. But that's just me and I don't have a vote in this discussion.

Okay, where did my post go? Here's a repeat. Dialyn, of course you have a vote. We all have votes, but votes mean nothing here. IMO Brian is right: there is a disconnect between forum visitors and most of those who post in the gallery. In this sub-section are people who care about the craft of writing. Jon (jstro) certainly cares, as witness his critiques of the prose contest. Others, myself included, the moderators, and Ms. Deemarie in the head office. Sure, maybe I've studied more than most of the contributors here as an avocation; gone to more seminars, lectures, and short courses on how to write; been involved with critique circles, entered contest, submitted novels, and read shelf-load after shelf-load of books on the craft. Slowly my arrogance of divinity over my work faded, as did the lettering on my keyboard. Writing is not a divine gift, it's an acquired skill. Inspiration? Well, that may be another matter, and often in short supply. Guess my message is, don't sweat the disconnect. People are. In this matter let them be. Dick - aka drace68

Im still ignorant....... I think, in a sense there needs to be a clarification between what the forum is for vs the gallery. I assume the forum is basically to discuss writing and the gallery is to post it. Here, this is the first time I ever used the forum. I havent looked into past posts to reply, mainly because I dont feel connected with them in any way. Most have been ongoing. But.........aside from my ignorance............and this may not specifically relate to topic. But in my personal experience, the net is the best place in the field of media for a writer. No where else can a writer get instant feedback from a reader, or any feedback for that matter. The feedback is the best reward and motivation for a writer. No reader who buys a book off a shelve is going to call the author and say hey, I loved that line you wrote about.......... So if this topic is mainly about comments or the lack of etc. As a writer, I cherish one comment the same as I would a dozen. For the artwork, as long as someones eyes viewed it, it drew them to it for some reason.

"I knew who I was when I woke up this morning; but I"ve changed several times since then"- Alice

I take the time to go look at the gallery of anyone who comments on my work, be they writers or visual artists. The one thing I do get tired of is the attitude that writers are not artists, Brian knows what I mean. Waves at Brian There is a sense of elitism here, with some of the visual artists acting as if writers are just wannabe artists.

Dear Dialyn: Hello, and thanks kindly for your comments.You have always been most helpful to me and all others in the past. For that, I once again say, 'thank you'. In no way am I saying someone is wrong in their choices. I am simply stating my humble opinion (and relaying those of many others said to me during my brief stay at this site). A short time ago, a topic was posted in the forum by a moderator/manager in this gallery asking for various inputs about the forum/ gallery and how to make it better and get more participation. I am going on the logical assumption that the posting was put up for that reason. I originally sent a private IM to a higher up here about my thoughts. It was shown as received by that person but no reply was ever given my way. Thus, the reason I decided to post those thoughts here at this time. It's quite obvious if one goes back and reads the history of the 'forum' post topics that there is primarily one group in it and another group primarily in the writer's gallery. My only purpose, kind soul, is to try to get some of the superbly talented peoples from each venue to meet somewhere in the proverbial middle to impart what they may have to offer the other. Obviously, no one can be, or should be, forced to do so. If it is to continue as mostly two, separate entities, that it will continue to do. I have been trying to ask, most respectfully, for quite some time, as to 'why' there seems to be this line of demarcation in the writers area at this wonderful site? It is not, nor has it ever been, my intention to put people on the defense. I'm sorry if I worded it as to make you or anyone else think such. My apologies. It is my sole intent and greatest wish that more of the talented souls here could give guidance to one another. I notice in the other various galleries at this site, much more communications between artists of different styles. It puzzles me as to why the writer's gallery seems so different? I do note that I point out to those in the writer's gallery that I speak with that there are many talented people in the writer's forum area, also. Does anyone have to do anything specific? Of course not. Would it help make the writer's gallery better if the forum and the gallery became more in sync? I feel, in my humble opinion, that it surely would increase the participatory level of the writer's area and the skill levels. Again, just my simple thoughts. Thanks kindly for allowing me to express them. MUCH appreciated. Peace to all. My best, TallPockets.

Oh, OK I get it now......hum....where do we begin? Unfortunately right now I'm using a strange computer that has no name. My Mobo died on mine....funeral at 11:00. So the renderings and writings for me are on pause. Anyway, everything has to have a beginning; it only takes one word or maybe 2? How it's done doesn't really matter. If we build it, they will come. And to keep it going it just needs to be of interest, identifyable, entertaining, useful and purple. Your turn....

"I knew who I was when I woke up this morning; but I"ve changed several times since then"- Alice

I'm afraid I'm one of those that has a bit of difficulty dealing with both the forum and the gallery. I'm sort of a dinosaur, in that I was quite comfortable with the forum back in the days before there even was a writer's gallery. Yes, Virginia, there really was a time... What I liked about posting to the forum was the give and take that seemed to take place back then. Perhaps my memories are fonder than reality warrants? I don't know. But now I do try to post in both places, though admittedly I'm not too good at keeping up with the gallery. I seem to hit it in spurts. I tend not to comment in the gallery, and that I'm afraid is mostly just my own laziness. Also, I find it difficult to comment on poetry or things that seem to be of a deeply painful personal nature. It's not that they don't deserve comment. In the case of poetry I simply feel grossly unqualified most of the time. The the latter case, I simply don't know what to say like someone unable to console the bereaved at a funeral (I have difficulty with that too). And since I'm not sure if such a posting is fictional or not, I have a dread of making some sort of horribly insensitive comment like, You should have used active voice there, when someone is pouring out their soul. Just seems safer here in the forum. At any rate, I'm getting a little better. Time was when I posted nothing at all in the gallery. So over time, maybe folks will just sort of drift together. We can always hope. jon

 
~jon
My Blog - Mad Utopia Writing in a new era.

I must admit that I get so involved with a lot of other galleries (My terragen, photography, etc,) that I don't always have time for the forums. How about sending a weekly or monthly condensed email version of the forum messages posted to our inboxes? To me the forums are for notices, techniques, improvements and suggestions and the galleries are for the artwork themselves with comments for each individual piece. Even if you don't know much about a style ie: poetry, you can still say whether it shows a clear picture or what emotions it evokes in you, if it does that is. I just feel incredibly restricted as I have to choose between my photos, terragen and writing instead of being able to post one of each per day. Another way to get people to view the writers gallery is by selecting a picture from another section (ie poser) and writing a short prose or poem then letting the artist know what you have done. Then post in the relevant forum what has been done and put a link to the writers gallery. Just my humble input though. Hugs to all and thanks to those who have taken time to comment on my artwork.

Copyright S.R. Hulley
Chin up, stay strong! Hugs!